Obama, McCain and Palin

As reported by AP and the Baltimore Sun Times, Barack Obama has surged to a seven-point lead over John McCain one month before the presidential election, lifted by voters who think the Democrat is better suited to lead the nation through its sudden financial crisis, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll that underscores the mounting concerns of some McCain backers.

Likely voters now back Obama 48-41 percent over McCain, a drastic shift from an AP-GfK survey that gave the Republican a slight edge nearly three weeks ago, before Wall Street collapsed and sent ripples across worldwide markets. On top of that, unrelated surveys show Obama beating McCain in several battlegrounds, including Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania - three states critical in the state-by-state fight for the presidency.

Several GOP strategists close to McCain's campaign privately fret that his chances for victory are starting to slip away. These Republicans, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid angering the campaign, point to several factors: Obama's gains nationally and in traditionally GOP states, no McCain gain from the first debate, McCain's struggles with economic issues as the financial crisis has unfolded and public skepticism about his running mate, Sarah Palin. More HERE

On the eve of the VP Debate, a new poll shows that most Americans regard Sarah Palin as unqualified to take over as president should it become necessary. More HERE

(Gerald Herbert/AP)

"We let Sarah be Sarah. She's smart, she's tough, she's been in debates before," McCain told "Fox & Friends" on Fox News Channel. "The American people ... the more they see of her, the more they love her, and I'm confident of that at the end."

AAPP: Damn, both Palin and McCain are stupid. i guess McCain has not watched her in action.

The finding is a sharp reversal from earlier polling that showed she was considered qualified, and points to the heightened stakes for Palin in her faceoff with Delaware Sen. Joe Biden this evening. Maybe she will use a bit of Voodoo witchcraft to win he debates?

The NY Times is reports about the political tension as Senator Barack Obama walked to the Republican side of the aisle to greet Senator John McCain, during the Bail Out debate. McCain offered a chilly look and a brief return handshake.

AAPP: Nothing amazes me with John McCain anymore. his color aroused bigotry continues to come out every day. As an example, Politico.Com is reporting that hours ahead of the vice presidential debate, Sen John McCain (R-Ariz.) criticized the selection of PBS' Gwen Ifill as moderator because she is writing a book called "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama."

“Frankly, I wish they had picked a moderator that isn’t writing a book favorable to Barack Obama — let's face it," McCain said on "Fox & Friends." "But I have to have to have confidence that Gwen Ifill will handle this as the professional journalist that she is. ... More HERE

John McCain makes me sick and I'm wary of the bailout. I don't like it. I would like to Kill the Bailout, But I'm going to hold my nose and swallow like every American.Candidly, I'm sure this is a bailout for Wall Street, and not necessarily a rescue for all of America.

Yes, It's an unpopular bail out plan, pushed by an unpopular president and unpopular Congress who are making the unpopular decision for us. What a drag. Well at least Obama has promised a Presidential review of Bail Out.